In Brief: Bank Hit by Casino Loan Plans a Stock Buyback

GBC Bancorp in Los Angeles said it plans to buy back as many as two million shares, or 16% of its outstanding shares.

The $1.7 billion-asset company said it would invite offers of $18 to $22 a share, and would use those offers to set a cash price.

GBC said it would repurchase the shares because they are undervalued. They had plummeted in March after an announcement that a $30 million loan to a Las Vegas casino had soured.

The buyback plan was announced Friday. GBC shares rose 11% that day, to $19.94, in heavy trading. The were trading at $19.875 at midday Tuesday.

The banking company also said Friday that it was negotiating to sell a property that had been the collateral for a nonperforming $12.6 million loan. The borrower has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, GBC said; the sale is to be completed in the third quarter.

GBC, which owns General Bank, operates 16 branches in California and loan production offices in Seattle and New York.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER